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8 dressmaking patterns perfect for confident beginners and intermediate sewists

Updated: Oct 14



If you would like to improve your sewing skills, you could either use the patterns in our beginner blog post and use a more challenging fabric, or follow this blog post to find inspiration.


The below patterns are a mix for confident beginners and intermediate sewist level. Don't forget, the wrong fabric could also make things more challenging. The below projects include 6 dresses, and 2 bottoms.


EMERSON PANT & SHORT BY TRUE BIAS OR

FREE RANGE SLACKS BY SEW HOUSE SEVEN

Elasticated pants are a great first project to dive into pant making. They will make easy to fit and very comfortable to wear.


The Emerson Pant & Short come in a mid and high-rise version with a wide leg for the long version. Use light to medium weight woven fabrics such as linen, rayon and chambray.


The Free Range Slacks are high-rise and come with wide or tapered leg version. Both versions work great in a medium weight such as linen, rayon or tencil twill as well as light-weight denims.




INDIGO DRESS BY TILLY AND THE BUTTONS OR

ROSCOE BLOUSE & DRESS BY TRUE BIAS

Both dresses are great for practicing gathering fabric. The dresses are both loose and make it easier to fit.

Indigo has a bodice shaped with bust darts, gently curved empire waistline, and floaty gathered skirt. The comes is available in 3 different length and 2 sleeve options. Use light to medium weight woven fabrics with drape such as cotton lawn, chambray, Viscose, tencel, double gauze, crepe de chine or georgette.


The Roscoe Blouse and Dress is an oversized garment with a gathered neckline, raglan sleeves and neckties. The pattern comes in 3 different views. All versions work great in a lightweight, woven fabrics with movement such as rayon crepe, rayon challis, silk crepe de chine, lightweight linen, cotton voile and gauze.



LYRA DRESS BY TILLY & THE BUTTONS OR

TAMZIN DRESS BY BY HAND LONDON

Both pattern are great for improving their sewing skills and ideal for an intermediate level. In both dresses, you will learn very different techniques. One does buttons and the one tucks.


Swoosh around in effortless style with the Lyra Dress. Endlessly versatile, pick cool cotton for summer, cosy needlecord for winter or drapey viscose for added swish! The pattern has a variety of length as well as sleeve options - which is great so you can make the dress your style and wardrobe.


Tamzin is the quintessential folk dress that will have you twirling through summer year after year! This pattern has great details and techniques to really up your sewing skills: from square neckline, princess seams and tuck details - there is a ton to learn in this pattern. Tamzin will work beautifully in light to medium weight woven fabrics such as linen, viscose/rayon, tencel, soft or floaty cottons, double gauze and drapey silks.




JENNY OVERALL & TROUSER BY CLOSET CORE PATTERN OR

ORCHIDÉE DRESS/BLOUSE BY DEER AND DOE

Another two pattern that really grow your sewing skills. They are very different to each other but great for learning.

Jenny is a modern interpretation of classic overalls and wide-leg trousers with an ultra-high rise, sleek, functional details and a comfortable all-day-long fit. The pattern is available in an overall and trouser version, and both come with a long and short leg. Bottom-weight woven fabrics such as denim, twill, canvas, gabardine, medium weight linen, jacquard and brocade will make it easy to cut and sew, and the single or double zipper waistband, rounded back patch pockets and top-stitching will give you the challenge.


Orchidee is a lined dress and blouse with deep V-neck, lots of gathers around the waist and shoulder seams. The waistband is very fitted and you will get to learn how to make gorgeous bridal buttons. The statement sleeves complete the romantic look. The pattern will work well in light weight fabrics with little structure and soft drape such as cotton voile, swiss dot and eyelet.




All patterns are available in the shop.


I hope you enjoy these dressmaking patterns as much as I do. Let me know which one you would try or maybe have made already.


Happy Sewing,

Maria



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